Archeologia Polski

Organic or mineral? The soft hammer technique in the Late Palaeolithic at selected sites in Western Pomerania

Michał Adamczyk — 2024-12-31

This article presents the results of research on the technique of using a soft hammer to produce flint blades found at selected Late Palaeolithic sites in Western Pomerania. Material from three sites was analysed: Kocierz 3, Buniewice 7, and Wołczkowo 1. They are all associated with the Federmesser and Ahrensburgian cultures, and possibly the Bromme and Swiderian cultures, dated to the 12th and 11th millennia BCE. Also studied was currently prepared experimental products, the reference collection thus created including blades struck with mineral (stone) and organic (antler) hammers. All the studied items underwent dynamic technological classification and subsequent statistical analysis. The results indicate that Palaeolithic flint knappers used both types of hammers with varying frequency. It was found that in older assemblages, the proportion of tools made with mineral hammers was significantly higher, while in later assemblages, these proportions were more equal. Variations were also observed depending on the position of the product in the chaîne opératoire.

Prehistoric quarrying in the Jizerské hory mountains

Pavel Burgert — 2024-12-31

In the 20 years since the important discovery of metabasite quarrying in the Jizerské hory Mountains (northern Bohemia, Czech Republic) a wealth of knowledge has been gathered on this raw material used to make Neolithic polished stone tools. A synthesis of these results now gives a more comprehensive view of how this raw material was employed in different periods and extracted directly at the source sites. The overview is at the same time a springing board for further research. Exploitation of metabasite and its widest spatial distribution was in the Linear Pottery culture (LBK; 5400–5000/4900 BC). In the post-LBK period of regionalisation, the sources of raw materials for the production of polished tools were diversified and the degree of utilisation of Jizera Mountains-type metabasite is demonstrably varied by region.

Main strategies of the food economy of communities of the so-called Lusatian culture in the Odra and Vistula river basins – summary of the current state of knowledge

Joanna Urban — 2024-12-31

The article concerns the food economy of the community of the so-called Lusatian culture inhabiting the territories of present-day Poland from the Middle Bronze Age to the end of the Early Iron Age (around 1300–300 BC). The methods of providing food used by humans in this period are presented. It was found that the most important role was fulfilled by land cultivation and animal husbandry. Gathering and hunting, together with fishing, also occupied a significant place in the food acquisition cycle. These activities did not only supplement food shortages, but in certain situations their role could have become dominant.

Antoninianus of Trebonianus Gallus from the cemetery of the society of the Wielbark culture in Weklice in the context of other monetary findings from Barbaricum

Vital Sidarovich — 2024-12-31

In 2022 during the excavations at the Wielbark Culture cemetery in Weklice, a perforated antoninian of Trebonianus Gallus was discovered in the destroyed inhumation grave 642. This is the fourth Roman coin found in this necropolis, but the first with this face value. Antonininianii are relatively numerous in the northern part of the Wielbark Culture area, including the Elbląg Heights; their discoveries are also recorded in other areas of Barbaricum. However, their finds in graves are extremely rare – denarii and subaeratii dominate, most of them with holes. The coin from Weklice is so far the second antoninian discovered in a grave of this culture, but the first to have a hole. It was probably used as an amulet or a pendant ornament.

Climate fluctuation in the 3rd century BC – 5th century AD and their impact on human-environment relations: selected examples from southern Poland

Halina Dobrzańska — 2024-12-31

Against the background of climatic fluctuations in Europe, four examples of detailed studies from southern Poland are presented, which document the very clear, multidirectional impact of climatic changes in the Roman period on the settlement and nature of the activities of the Przeworsk culture community. Local conditions also played an important role. The discussed ecumene was not uniform, which caused regional differentiation of anthropopression, recorded in settlement forms and sediments. It consisted of “centres” of non-agricultural production, i.e. metallurgical in the Świętokrzyskie region and pottery centres in the Vistula valley, east of Kraków, relatively densely populated and significantly affecting the natural environment. Between these centres, occupying a relatively small area, there were regions used for agriculture, constituting a mosaic of arable land, pastures and forest areas, which resulted in low intensity of erosion-accumulation processes. Regardless of the large migration movements of the Przeworsk culture population to the south, the heterogeneity of the ecumene could also have caused local relocations to both production centres (equivalent to contemporary “village→city” migrations). This may be illustrated by the decrease in the population density of some agricultural areas after the Roman climatic optimum (after 150 AD), for example, in the Nida valley and its left-bank, karstic part of the catchment.

Hoard of early medieval silver ingots (grivnas) from Bużyska, near Drohiczyn

Mieczysław Bienia — 2024-12-31

The article concerns a hoard of early medieval silver ingots (grivnas), hidden in the second half of the 12th century or the first half of the 13th century. The objects were discovered in 2005 during excavations at Bużyska, Korczew commune, near Drohiczyn, in the investigation of a multicultural settlement (Site 10/54, in the area of AZP 53–81). The group consisted of 11 silver grivnas, ten of which belong to the so-called Chernihiv type, and the eleventh is a Lithuanian ingot (also known as a Western Rus’ ingot). The text includes a description of the circumstances of the discovery and typological characteristics and metric data (dimensions and weight) of the discovered ingots. The results of analyses of the elemental composition of the metal from which the objects were cast are also presented. Due to the small number of specialist analyses conducted so far, the studies carried out using the SEM-EDS method will be of great importance for future investigation on grivnas.

Józef Łepkowski (1826–1894) and the beginnings of Polish university archaeology

Marzena Woźny — 2024-12-31

In the 19th century, university archaeology in Polish lands developed at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków and this process was largely associated with the person of Józef Łepkowski (1826–1894). He was the first professor of archaeology in Poland (although the country was at this time divided between three imperial partitions). In 1863, he obtained his habilitation degree, three years later he was appointed associate professor, and in 1875 full professor. In his lectures, he presented issues related not only to prehistory, but also to art history, conservation and auxiliary sciences of history. He was the organizer of the university’s Archaeological Cabinet, where he collected works of art and various archaeological artefacts. The article presents the circumstances and background of archaeology gaining the status of a university discipline in Poland in the 19th century and the contributions of Łepkowski to this development.

The German Margarete defensive line from World War II in southwestern Slovakia. Archaeological evidence and historical facts

Pavol Šteiner — 2024-12-31

Research on field fortifications from World War II in Slovakia has led to the identification of the Margareten-Stellung, a German defensive line, a part of which has now been located east of the town of Šahy where the Soviets engaged the retreating Germans in mid-December 1944. The identification was based on references from written sources and LIDAR images of the woodlands near the town. A survey of this system has contributed insights into its technical design, tactical significance and the role it played in the battle of Šahy. Research on features of this kind brings them into the public eye, allowing them to be registered as archaeological sites and developed as historical heritage sites.

Committee of Pre- and Protohistoric Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences 1994-2024

Sylwester Czopek — 2024-12-31

In 2024, after 33 years of existence, the Committee of Pre- and Protohistoric Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences ceased its activities. The text gives an overview of its history, the way of its operating, its importance for the development of Polish archaeology, and the main directions of its activities carried out since 1990.

Prof. Zbigniew Bukowski (1931–2024)

Joanna Urban — 2024-12-31

A memoir about Professor Zbigniew Bukowski, an archaeologist who throughout his professional life was associated with the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences. He dealt with the problems of the Bronze Age and early Iron Age in Central Europe, with particular emphasis on the Lusatian culture. For many years he was editor-in-chief of the journal Archeologia Polski.

Jadwiga Bronicka-Rauhut, PhD (1930–2022) – a tribute

Stanisław Suchodolski — 2024-12-31

A memoir about Jadwiga Rauhutowa, an outstanding archaeologist of the early Middle Ages, a long-time employee of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences. She took part, among other things, in the research of a castle and cemetery in Czersk, Mazovia.

Halina Mackiewicz (1925–2024) – in memoriam

Hanna Kowalewska-Marszałek — 2024-12-31

Recalling the silhouette and achievements of Halina Mackiewicz, an outstanding researcher of the Paleolithic and Mesolithic in Central and Eastern Poland, former employee of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

From the Editors

Magdalena Bis — 2024-12-31

Information on the start of work by the new Editorial Team of the journal, the planned directions of the journal and the goals the Team will pursue from 2024 to 2027.

Review of the book: Kalina Skóra, Suicide in early Germanic communities, Łódź 2022

Leszek P. Słupecki — 2024-12-31

A review of a work published two years ago on the problem of suicide in the broader ancient culture, focusing on this phenomenon in the early Germanic community. The research used a wide variety of available sources, both written, iconographic and archaeological.

Review of the book: Magdalena Natuniewicz-Sekuła, Marek Baczewski, Weklice. A cemetery of the Wielbark culture on the eastern margin of the Vistula Delta (excavations 2005–2018), Warsaw 2023

Barbara Niezabitowska-Wiśniewska — 2024-12-31

Critical discussion of the monograph presenting the results of archaeological research on the cemetery of the society of the Wielbark culture in Weklice, Elbląg district, conducted in 2005-2018. This is the second volume showing materials from this necropolis and the second published in the main series Monumenta Archaeologica Barbarica.